At Union's Convention, 'Paradoxes' of Free Speech

Miami Beach--Aiming to bolster its stand against censorship, the
National Education Association adopted a measure here calling on its
members and a union publication to monitor attacks on such First
Amendment rights as freedom of speech.

But the first group the union may have to report is itself.

In actions its president conceded were paradoxical, the union at its
annual convention this month followed up on its policy condemning
censorship by adopting others seeking a ban on so-called "hate" video
games and barring from nea periodicals advertisers that do not adhere
to the union's anti-bias policies.

Under a separate policy adopted by the board of directors in May,
meanwhile, the Boy Scouts of America were ousted from the convention
exhibition hall and some delegates were prohibited from displaying
certain materials opposing abortion.

The board policy is targeted at outside groups that diverge from
official nea positions. If strictly applied, union officials
acknowledge, the policy could have unintended effects--for instance, by
preventing future exhibits by the Educational Testing Service and the
College Board because of differences with the nea on testing
issues.

No Apologies for 'Paradox'

The delegates' stance on the video-game and advertising issues was
"a paradox," said Keith B. Geiger, president of the n.e.a. "I don't
apologize for it. I don't try to explain it."

Calling the union one of the "biggest supporters of freedom of
speech and freedom of the press," Mr. Geiger said the specific issues
involved created a dilemma for the delegates.

As for the board policy that led to the ejection of the Boy Scouts
and the limits on some anti-abortion materials, Mr. Geiger maintained
that the new rules were intended to preempt attempts by delegates to
outlaw booths sponsored by specific union caucuses, such as members who
dispute the nea's stand in favor of abortion rights.

In essence, the rules prohibit organizations from exhibiting at the
convention if they in any way stand in opposition to union policy.
Moreover, the rules bar nea delegates themselves from exhibiting
materials at the meeting that run counter to union policy and that are
produced by outsiders.

Boy Scouts and Abortion Foes

The Boy Scouts, whose booth featured a display of Boys' Life
magazine and a drug-education curriculum guide, were asked to leave on
the last day of the exhibition.

Blake Lewis, the national spokesman for the Scouts, said members of
the union's gay and lesbian caucus had visited the booth on the
previous day to tell the organization it should not be exhibiting there
due to its ban on participation by homosexuals and girls and its
requirement that members pledge an oath to God--positions that conflict
with nea anti-discrimination policies.

The next day, Mr. Lewis said, a union representative asked the
Scouts to leave. Mr. Lewis said his organization had no intention of
debating with the n.e.a. its longstanding policies.

In the second incident, materials the union's anti-abortion caucuses
wanted to display were banned by convention officials. Of 11 buttons
the Educators for Life and Respect for Life caucuses sought to display,
the union prohibited 5 for having been produced by outsiders. Of 23
pamphlets and brochures submitted for the approval process, 8 were
barred, including a price list of materials.

Christine Nowak, chairman of the Respect Life caucus, said that
attempts to suppress abortion foes' speech are not unusual for the
union. In fact, she asserted, at past conventions anti-abortion signs
have been pulled down and members expressing such views have been
harassed at microphones.

"N.e.a. has to stop censoring its own members," Ms. Nowak said.
"N.e.a. has a tradition of free speech. They should practice what they
preach."

The anti-abortion materials were "the only literature that we have
stopped from [being] handed out this year," said Richard Nuances, the
n.e.a.'s manager for convention operations. He said the policy
mandating that delegates produce their own materials was a protection
against subterfuge by outside groups advocating changes in union
policy.

Ms. Nowak and her caucus tried to get a resolution passed that would
have prevented interference with exhibits. By a parliamentary maneuver,
debate was shut off and the item was removed from consideration.

Press reports in recent months have described foreign-made games
that simulate, for example, Nazi violence against Jews.

Move's Irony Suggested

Citing attempts in the past by fascist regimes to prejudice their
people against minority groups, supporters of the measure said such
videos are produced with those aims in mind.

But one protester later suggested that it was ironic the 8,500
delegates had voted to support such a ban without considering that one
safeguard against fascism is freedom of expression.

The next day, the union's legislative body unanimously adopted a
policy barring from union publications advertisers that do not adhere
to n.e.a. policies against discrimination on the basis of race, gender,
sexual orientation, and other such factors.

In the lone question from the floor, an Arizona delegate sought to
clarify how the rule would be enforced.

"We would not be able to monitor all of [the advertisers]," said Mr.
Geiger. "We have to assume they ... would be honest."

If the union received a complaint about an advertiser's
noncompliance, he said, an investigation would ensue.

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